Slain teen protestor’s father reportedly hospitalized after hunger strike in Iran prison

In a speech on Sunday during National Exports Day, Pezeshkian criticized the commitments imposed by parliament, arguing that they have placed excessive burdens on the state and contributed to the country's economic challenges.

"The commitments that the parliament has imposed on governments do not align with reality," Pezeshkian said, adding, "On one hand, they have created a debt-ridden government with imbalances in banks and funds, and then they say, 'Solve it.'"

His remarks come as Iran continues to grapple with the economic consequences of US oil export and banking sanctions, which have driven the country into a financial downturn.

"We are at war—a war that these dishonorable people [the West] have imposed on us, worsening the situation day by day. Today, it's not a missile war, but a war of ideas and production," he stated, in what appeared as a political jab against hardliners, who have the majority at the parliament.

Amid such admissions, criticism of the government’s handling of the economic crisis has intensified, particularly from the media affiliated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). One of the primary targets of this criticism is Abdolnaser Hemmati, Iran’s Minister of Finance, who has come under fire for mentioning sanctions as the greatest economic issue for the country.

In a report by the IRGC-affiliated Tasnim news website, Hemmati was described as the wrong choice for minister of economy. The report accused him of acknowledging the effects of Western sanctions, which the agency claims reveals Tehran's empty hands to its adversaries.

Hemmati, who recently tweeted that “implementing economic reforms and efforts to reduce sanctions is the key to solving the country’s problems,” was further lambasted by Tasnim.

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"Mr. Hemmati, who apparently knows more about media than economics, last night posted a tweet that seemed more like a dangerous signal and message of weakness to the enemy, emphasizing his inability to solve economic problems without lifting the sanctions. It appears that he has mistakenly occupied the position of minister of economy,” Tasnim wrote.

Iran’s economy has been impacted by US-led sanctions, which have crippled its oil revenues, devalued the rial, and driven annual inflation to above 40%. The national currency reached a near-historic low on Sunday, with the US dollar trading at 646,000 rials, marking an increase of close to 10% since August.

The stock market, too, reflected the broader economic instability, with Tehran’s exchange losing approximately 19,000 units on Sunday, on top of 24,000 on Saturday, standing at nearly 2 million points.

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As the country’s financial situation worsens, fears of a regional conflict with Israel have prompted Iranians to safeguard their wealth by converting assets into more stable investments like gold. The price of gold coins has surged, with values reaching nearly 560 million rials—an increase of 22 million rials in just one day.

Reza Gheibi, an economic expert, told Iran International that the shift to gold and foreign currency is a direct result of public fears over the future of the Iranian economy. "Iran’s relentless regional aggression and its deeply ingrained ideological perspectives will prevent the country from finding a way out of this crisis," Gheibi said.

Meanwhile, Arash Azarmi, an economic journalist, predicted that as the economic crisis deepens, internal tensions between Pezeshkian and the hardline opposition aligned with Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei will become more pronounced.

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In an interview with Iran International, Azarmi also noted that any economic reforms are unlikely to succeed under US sanctions. "As long as these sanctions are in place, Iran’s trade is illegal and unofficial. BRICS and Shanghai Cooperation Organization cannot offer a solution," he remarked.

As economic tensions rise and Iran remains isolated from the global market, the country’s leadership continues to face growing pressure with critics both inside and outside the government voicing their frustrations.

Two US intelligence documents, meant to be shared exclusively among the 'Five Eyes' nations, were leaked on the pro-Iran Telegram account Middle East Spectator, just as Israel prepares to retaliate for the October 1 barrage of 181 ballistic missiles. The platform's account on X lists its location as the Islamic Republic of Iran.

In a press statement, Middle East Spectator said the channel had no connection to the original source “which we assume to be a whistleblower within the US State Department."

The "top secret" documents, dated October 15 and 16, began circulating online Friday, meant only to be seen by Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Several options are now being discussed, including internal strategic leaks and possible state-backed hacking.

Holden Tripplet, a former FBI counterintelligence official, told Iran International: “The leak, if done without official sanction by the US government, may have been intended to dissuade an Israeli strike or at least limit the overall retaliatory response.”

However, Tripplet, who spent 15 years in the FBI, said it could also be the tip of the iceberg. “There may have been other documents leaked along with those which would likely indicate someone in the US government upset with US policy towards Israel in general,” he added. “They may be trying to harm the overall relationship.”

Jason Brodsky, head of policy research at United Against Nuclear Iran, wrote on X that the documents, which had been US surveillance of Israeli military activity in preparation for the retaliation, “risks eroding trust between the US and Israel at a sensitive moment”, the documents “of high value to Tehran as it plans a defense”.

Speaking to CNN, Mick Mulroy, former deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East and a retired CIA officer, said: “If it is true that Israeli tactical plans to respond to Iran’s attack on October 1 have been leaked, it is a serious breach”, he too warning that future coordination between the US and Israel could be challenged as a result.

“Trust is a key component in the relationship, and depending on how this was leaked that trust could be eroded,” he added. CNN cites officials who have verified the authenticity of the documents.

One of the documents , which says it was compiled by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, says it has observed Israel moving munitions around.

Another says it is sourced to the National Security Agency and outlines Israeli air force exercises involving air-to-surface missiles, also believed to be in preparation for a strike on Iran.

The reports also detail preparations of Israeli drone units, transfer of advanced munitions at Israeli air bases and air force exercises involving intelligence planes and fighter jets.

US President Joe Biden has said he will support Israel’s retaliation, but not an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities.

In 2012, a leak of Israeli plans to attack Iran's nuclear facilities drew speculation that it was a deterrence to the Jewish state which has also destroyed nuclear facilities in enemy states Iraq and Syria.

Brodsky pointed out that “there are many possible culprits: from a hack to a leak. The Iranian regime, with assistance from Russia and perhaps China, has been perfecting its cyberwarfare skills in this regard.”

Only last month, a US grand jury indicted several Iranian nationals and IRGC employees on charges related to hacking efforts targeting Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign.

They were charged with a conspiracy "with others known and unknown to hack into accounts of current and former US officials, members of the media, nongovernmental organizations, and individuals associated with US political campaigns”.

The Justice Department said the activity was “part of Iran’s continuing efforts to stoke discord, erode confidence in the US electoral process, and unlawfully acquire information relating to current and former US officials that could be used to advance the malign activities of the IRGC, including ongoing efforts to avenge the death of Qasem Soleimani, the former commander of the IRGC – Qods Force.”

The latest leak also raises serious questions about internal security among the most senior officials in the US. Brodsky added: “After a series of incidents that have raised serious questions, many people have been concerned about possible Iranian influence and infiltration in the US government, not to mention those with animus towards a key US partner Israel.”

Last year, US Iran envoy, Robert Malley, was suspended after what was described as his mishandling classified information. Malley was placed on unpaid leave and had his security clearance suspended, with the State Department still blocking all efforts to gather further information on the case.

Two influential congressmen suggested in May that Malley lost his security clearance because he had transferred classified documents to his personal email and cell phone, and the documents were then stolen by a hostile cyber actor.

It raises possible questions about the team he had around him who remain in place while the FBI investigates Malley.

Also last year, highly classified Pentagon documents were leaked online, once again risking relations with the country’s allies such as Israel, South Korea and Ukraine, revealing information about how the US spies on allies and foes alike.

Axios reported that US officials said the breach was extremely concerning for Washington.

On Sunday, Israeli officials were declining to comment on the matter while the country continues to fight Iran’s proxies across its borders.

The Islamic Republic's threats of igniting a regional war have caused significant turmoil in Iran's financial markets. On Saturday, the Tehran Stock Exchange index plunged by 24,000 points, falling to just above two million points. Meanwhile, the US dollar surged to near-record highs, and gold prices spiked, both serving as clear indicators of the escalating crisis.

Iran's economy has clearly felt the looming threat of war and responded swiftly. As the likelihood of an Israeli military strike increases, further spikes in the dollar rate and gold prices seem inevitable, heightening public anxiety about their financial survival.

The U.S. dollar has surged by nearly 10 percent since August, before Israel escalated its attacks on Hezbollah, prompting an Iranian missile barrage on October 1. While the IRGC missiles were ostensibly aimed at Israel, their true impact has been felt directly on Iran's economy, with ripple effects hitting domestic markets like daily economic bombs.

Iran’s economy hostage to foreign policy

In this situation, President Masoud Pezeshkian's government is similarly powerless to take effective action, as both war and sanctions are beyond its control. Economy Minister Abdolnasser Hemmati's calls for lifting sanctions to improve economic conditions are made with the full knowledge—shared by Hemmati himself—that this is impossible under current circumstances. Iran’s military and foreign policy decision are made by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Iran's economy has essentially become hostage to its foreign policy—a policy that is increasingly moving toward greater tension and conflict with the US and Israel. Not only is there no hope of lifting the sanctions, but new sanctions, such as those against Iran Air, have worsened the situation, leading to the complete suspension of Iran's flights to Europe.

Social discontent and public anger

Amid the ongoing economic crisis, protests from various sectors of society, including retirees and nurses, have grown, with people consistently voicing complaints about worsening economic conditions and their increasingly empty dinner tables. A central theme in these protests is the widespread anger toward the government’s neglect of domestic issues in favor of supporting groups like Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas. Many feel that, in the face of these crises and mounting economic pressures, the government has abandoned its own people, focusing on its regional proxies. This sentiment has further widened the gap between the public and the government, with anger and dissatisfaction clearly reflected in the protestors’ messages.

Failed attempt to assassinate Netanyahu intensifies tensions

Meanwhile, the IRGC and its proxy groups’ attempt to assassinate Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ended in failure. A drone attack on Netanyahu’s residence in Caesarea, between Haifa and Tel Aviv, was unsuccessful as neither he nor his wife were home at the time. This failure has intensified Israel’s anger, resulting in renewed threats against the Islamic Republic.

The incident raises a crucial question: Why have Israel and the US successfully targeted and assassinated numerous IRGC commanders and leaders of proxy groups, while the Islamic Republic and its proxies have not managed to eliminate even a single senior Israeli commander? The answer is the Islamic Republics technological inferiority.

In summary, as political and military tensions persist, Iran's economy is facing mounting pressure with no clear path to recovery. The Islamic Republic's foreign policy, focused on supporting regional proxy groups rather than national interests, has effectively held the economy and people's livelihoods hostage. Continuing with this foreign policy approach will not only fail to improve the situation but will further exacerbate the economic and social crisis.

The comments came during an interview with Turkey's NTV network on Friday, at a regional meeting in Istanbul.

Araghchi emphasized that any attack on Iran, particularly its nuclear facilities, would be seen as crossing a red line and would provoke a significant response.

"Any attack on Iran will be considered crossing a red line for us. Such an attack will not go unanswered. The necessary response will be given to any attack on Iran's nuclear facilities or any similar attack," Araghchi stated.

This latest rhetoric from Tehran comes amid escalating tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, Iran’s regional ally. On Saturday, a drone launched from Lebanon struck the seaside residence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Caesarea, an affluent town known for its luxury villas. Although Netanyahu and his wife were not present during the attack, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that the drone, fired by Hezbollah, damaged a building in the area.

Netanyahu responded swiftly to the strike, accusing Iran and its proxies of being behind the attack and vowing retaliation.

"The attempt by Iran’s proxy Hezbollah to assassinate me and my wife today was a grave mistake," the Israeli leader wrote on social media platform X. "This will not deter me or the State of Israel from continuing our just war against our enemies."

In his remarks, Araghchi underscored Iran’s position on what it sees as Israeli and American aggression in the region. He pointed to the ongoing conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon, stating that Israel could not act in these areas without support from the United States.

"Israel cannot commit crimes in Gaza and Lebanon without the US. All the weapons used there are supplied by the US" Araghchi said during the interview.

The foreign minister added that Iran had not attacked Israeli civilian or economic targets, it had focused solely on military sites. He suggested that Tehran might not continue this approach if provoked. "We have not attacked the economic or civilian facilities... we have only targeted military facilities. Now we have identified all our targets there, and a similar attack on their targets will be carried out," Araghchi warned.

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, meanwhile, has vowed that “anyone who tries to harm Israel’s citizens will pay a heavy price. We will continue to eliminate the terrorists and those who dispatch them,”

Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmail Baghaei denied Iran’s role in launching attack on Netanyahu’s residence accusing Israel of being built on lies.

“The Zionist regime has been formed on the basis of lies and distortion of facts. Spreading lies is the current and permanent practice of this regime and its criminal leaders”, the spokesman said.

Araghchi, participating in Friday's meeting of South Caucasus nations in Istanbul after a regional tour which took him to Jordan and Egypt, described the growing tensions in Lebanon as very worrying.

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"The possibility of war in the region is always serious, and no one other than the Zionist regime wants that to happen. We want to reduce tensions, but we are ready for any scenario," he said.

These developments come at a time of heightened instability in the Middle East, with Israel facing threats from multiple fronts, including Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza, both backed by Iran.

A moderate seminarian as well as other critics have lashed out at the hardliner clergyman known to be the spiritual leader of ultraconservative Paydari Party for his comment on resistance against US and Israel at any cost.

Viral videos on social media show hardline cleric Mohammad Mehdi Mirbagheri stating that Muslims "from Israel to Yemen and from Iran to Palestine" must continue their resistance against Israel, even if it leads to the deaths of half the world's population in the conflict.

According to the Iranian Labor News Agency (ILNA), seminarian Mohammad Taghi Fazel Maybodi criticized hardline cleric Mohammad Mehdi Mirbagheri, stating: "Mr. Mirbagheri suggests that four billion people should die for him to achieve his goal. His destination aligns with the same agenda pushed by the Paydari Party."

Fazel Maybodi further remarked, "It seems Mirbagheri considers himself part of the half meant to survive, otherwise, he'd be in Gaza right now! It’s unfortunate that he makes such statements in the name of Islam."

According to a report by Rouydad24, the reformist daily Ham Mihan has labeled Mohammad Mehdi Mirbagheri as the "theoretician of war." The paper noted that Mirbagheri cited the late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, founder of the Islamic Republic, as allegedly saying, "If the superpowers hang all Muslim activists and take all our women as prisoners, our objective would still be worth it." Ham Mihan added that the authenticity of this quote attributed to Khomeini has yet to be verified.

The daily, along with other sources, reported that Mirbagheri and his fellow Paydari members are known for opposing Iran’s development according to common international standards. In response, Mirbagheri’s supporters labeled *Ham Mihan* a Zionist paper, arguing that Mirbagheri is a "theoretician of resistance," not war.

The core debate among Iranians now centers on the choice between constant confrontation with other states and pursuing peace, good relations, a strong economy, and development. After 45 years, it's evident that the Islamic Republic has failed to establish a healthy economy. Critics point to this failure and accuse the regime of fostering ongoing regional tensions that have left Iran increasingly isolated.

Prominent economist Mohammad Renani in Iran has accused Mirbagheri of being delusional, arguing that an alliance spanning nations from Afghanistan (Taliban) to Yemen and Palestine is unrealistic. Meanwhile, economic journalist Maysam Sharafi highlighted that Mirbagheri’s ideas are published on his Telegram channel under the heading of “war,” contradicting his supporters' claims that he advocates "resistance."

Meanwhile, contributing to the ongoing debate on the implications of Middle East conflicts for Iran, seasoned politician and former senior lawmaker Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh wrote in a commentary that the deployment of the American THAAD anti-missile system to Israel likely signals a shift in US policy in the region.

He highlighted two key points about the US move: first, Washington deployed the system specifically to counter Iran’s ballistic missiles; second, it aims to reassure its Arab allies in the region.

Falahatpisheh added that Israel and the US have entered a new phase in their alliance against Iran. However, while Israel views its confrontation with Iran as a tactical, step-by-step process, for the US, it is a strategic matter.

Commenting on the potential impact of the impact of the US election, Falahatpisheh noted: "If Trump wins, unlike the Democrats, he will manage tensions with Russia but will give more leeway for escalating conflicts in the Middle East." He also emphasized that Trump’s diplomacy leaves no room for concessions to Middle Eastern countries.

In his assessment of the region's dynamics, Falahatpisheh concluded that both sides in the conflict are intent on completely destroying each other, making it difficult for diplomats to achieve any meaningful progress.